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Kellogg Company CEO John Bryant honoured

18 December 2014

I am very honoured to be recognised by the ANU. It is a privilege and an honour to attend the ceremony and have an opportunity to give a brief talk.

ANU alumnus and Chief Executive Officer of the global Kellogg Company, John Bryant, has received the University’s highest honour by being presented with an Honorary Doctorate at the end of year graduation ceremonies.

Mr Bryant graduated from ANU with a Bachelor of Commerce in 1987 and currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of the global Kellogg Company, one of the world’s most recognised brands with products sold in more than 180 countries.

Mr Bryant joined Kellogg in 1998 and by 2002 reached his post-graduation goal when he was appointed Chief Financial Officer. Other senior executive roles followed culminating in his current appointment.

“I am very honoured to be recognised by the ANU. It is a privilege and an honour to attend the ceremony and have an opportunity to give a brief talk,” Mr Bryant said.

“We are living through a period of unprecedented economic change in human history. Industries are being transformed in front of our eyes.

“With great change comes great opportunity. Large companies need to pursue creative destruction, the need to reshape themselves, while start-ups will bring new solutions to consumers and transform industries as we know them.

“If the call to action in the mid-1800s in the US was "go west", today it is the emerging markets. Billions of people lifting themselves out of poverty, shifting and creating vast amounts of wealth.

“None of this will happen overnight. It has been happening for the last few decades and will continue for an unknown period of time. It may become the new normal,” he said.

ANU Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Young AO said Mr Bryant was a deserving recipient of the award.

“John Bryant is an international business leader,” Professor Young said.

“His career serves as an inspiration to young Australians seeking a route to a successful business career through study at the ANU.

“John has been quoted as saying that his career trajectory can be put down to a great deal of luck. Maybe, but his example shows that early career ambitions can be realised by hard work and dedication.”

Mr Bryant highlights the corporate social responsibility of Kellogg as an international leader in the global food industry. At the United Nations Climate Summit he announced Kellogg’s commitment to support the livelihoods of 15,000 small holder growers around the world.

He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Grocery Manufacturers Association and Catalyst, a non-profit organisation that promotes inclusive workplaces for women.